Leopold thomas



ltatrt gratte' getint @Hita LEOPOLD THOMAS, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, ASSIGNOR TO ANDREW KLOMAN, OF LAW REN (DEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Lewisham No. 82,452, atea september 22, 186s.

@the rlgehnle rrfmh tu in Hirse rtiers @anni mounting putt nf the sume.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAYv CONCERN: i I v Be it known that I, LEOPOLD THOMAS, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spike-Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and -exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, (in two sheets,) makinga part of this specification, in whichi Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my improved spike-machine.

/Figure 2 is a front en d elevation ofthe same. l

Figure 3 shows a vertical section along the lines :1: x, lig. 1.

Figure 4 is a. vertical cross-section along the line y y, gs. l and 3, in the rear of the pressing-dies; and

Figures 5 and 6 shew the relative positions of the header and pressing-dies at dilerent parts'of the stroke.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

The nature of my invention consist's- First, in the construction and use of a sliding carriage, on which to arrange and operate the pointing-tools and pressing-dies of a spike-machine.

' Second, in the construction and arrangement of a. pair of swinging pointing-tools, in connection'with guiding and pressing-rolls.

Third, in the arrangement and combination of devices for securing, first, a partial closing of the dies, and then a complete closing, with a consequent pressing of the spike Fourth, in the construction of a header, so hung and operated-that it shall, except at the completion of its'stroke, have its face inclined to the direction ofthe faces vof the pressing-dies, whereby the spike-head is formed hy a side and swinging stroke; and,

Fifth, in certain combinations of devices for securing the movements, operations, andresults above named.

To enable others skilled in the art to makel and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation. i

A is a. frame, of any suitable construction, to support the devices-employed.. B is a sliding carriagc,.rest ing and operating thereon, and carrying the tool-posts a, side or pressing-dies b b', and cam-lever c. D .and E are cam-yokes, in which operate the cams d and e respectively.' The cam-yoke D, by a cross-bar, C, and levers' C', operates the pointing-tools a.in the tool-posts a; the cam-.yoke E, by an arm or shaft, E', is connected with and operates the sliding carriage B; and the cam F plays against and operates the cam-lever c, which, in turn,

- drives forward and back the sliding side or pressing-die b. G is a. header, with its heading-end or face resting on the carriage, and attached by a screw or pin', g, which passes through its shank or shaft to a post,g, so that it may swing freely thereon. The working-face of this header is, previousto the completion of the stroke, oblique to the direction of the faces of the dies b b', or, in other words, forms an acute angle therewith, such acute angle opening toward the side on which thev spikeshead is to be formed. v The shaft of this header `Gr has a slot, z', inclinc'll in the same direction, through which projects a guiding-pin, i', which is attached to the carriage, and which, playing in the slot z', as the carriage B moves back and forth, swngsrthe header G from the position shown in fig. 6, which is its position at the beginning of a stroke, to that shown in iig. 5, which illustrates its position at the end of the stroke. In this motion, it swag'es a head on the end of the spike-blank, in'

Vthe recess L', which is in the end of the die b.

H H are two cylindrical friction-rollers, the bearings of one, usually the lower, heilig fixed, and of the other, adjustable by set-screws o, one working in the slot o', so as to be raised or lowered, to adapt the opening' between them tothe size of the rod or bar to-betworlred. The bearings of this roller are connected with a sliding frame, L, which plays up and down in the upright partrof frame A.l

In mortises properly cut in the tool-posts a, I insert bladed or edged cutting and' pointing-tools, a. TheI workinff-faces a of these tools a are of such bevel as to 'Hive a ro er oint to a s ike, an'd at the same time a n P P P P I sever the spikefrom the parent bar. They operate by a swinging motion, opening out, as shown in fig. 2, for the bar or rod to be inserted between them, and' between the rollers H H, and then closing together between the contiguous working-faces of such rollers, thus pointing thespike, and cutting it off at the same time. The bevelled faces a form the' wedge or V-shaped pointvof the spike. When the tools a swing together so far as to make a straight line with each other, their points meet, and the spike is cut off. Such operation of the pointing-tools a' would result in spreading the metal of the rod or bar vertically, up or down, or both, were it not that the rollers H H press or roll the excess of metal back into the har, and only allow the spike-point to pass through, of uniform width with the rest of the spike. Of course, the distance of the rollers H H from each other should equal the width of the spike to be made, and be but very little, if any` in excess of the vertical depth of the faces a of the pointing-tools. The adjustments should be carefully made, so that the pointing and cutting-tools a shall swing between the rollers H, and clear of the cylindrical faces of both.l

The length of rod' or bar required for a spike having been fed in between the rollers H, while being cut olf, it is caught by the pressing-dies I; L. One of these dies, has a groove, 7L, equal or about equal in depth and width to the corresponding dimensions of the spike to be made. The other die, b, I make usually with a plane face. Into the groove i, or along opposite to it, the spike-rod or bar is passed when fed into the machine. The double cam F, at the first part of its stroke, depresses somewhat the forward end of the earn-lever c, which end moves vertically between the vertical guide-posts f, and, by operating between the inclined parallel bars Z, imparts to thc die b', attached thereto, and sliding between the guides m, a forward motion, till it approaches sufficiently near to the die b to grasp the spike-blank or rod; but the dies b b do not press the rod so tightly but that the pointing-tools a', in cutting off and pointing the spike-blank, may, as they must do at their backward cutting-stroke, carry it still further'backward between the dies. As soon as the blank is completely severed from the bar, the other cam-face of the cam Fcauses the cam-lover c to give the die b a further throw, so as to press the spike-blank into'the groove L, shape the body of it ready for use, and hold the blank securely while the head is being formed thereon. l 4

The movements by which the work thus far has been done, so far as they have not been already explained, are substantially as follows:

A little before the dies b', carrying the pressed spike-blank, come against the header G, the cam d, operating in its cam-yoke D, causes the levers C,attached to th e cranks, c', ony the heads of the tool posts a, to throw open the cutting and pointing-tools a', so that they may admit between their working-faces the material for another blank. After the spike is complete, the dies b l1 open, and discharge it, as yet to be described. While this is being done, the cam e, operating in its cam-yoke E, and by the shaft E', causes the carriage B to more forward, carrying tool-posts, dies, &c. This motion commences as soon as the cutting-tools a have suf- 'fciently opened to move forward, clear ofthe bar, and admit between them material for another blank, as aboveA described, and from the commencement of this motion the two cams al and e act together, so that the tools a do not change their position relative to each other, but pass forward, oneon each side of the bar or rod, for a Y new bite. This forward'motion, or, in .other words, the motion toward the front of the machine, is arrested irst, in part, by the cam d. The motion of the carriage B continuing, so that the tool-posts a are carried on,/ the shafts E and cranks c approach toward a straight line, and the cutting-ends of the tools a swing toward. each other, and take a new bite on the bar or rod. When the carriage B stops, the cam d commences its back' ward stroke, and by its cam-yoke D, and connecting-devices C C c', draws the ends of the tools a closer together, still further severing the rod or bar, andV pointing another spikejhlank, as well as; feeding the blank in still further between the dies Z1. The carriage B, in the mean time, commences its backward stroke, carries with it the spike-blank, after it is firmly pressed between the dies b', as already described, and swages a head on its projecting end, against the header G, and in the recess 7L of the die 6. The-cam d, it will be observed, operates a little in advance of the cam e, so as to secure at least a partial opening and closing of the cutting and pointing-tools a' before the carriage B shifts their position with reference to the rollers H, which latter, as already described, co-operate with the pointing-tools in making the point of the spike of the desired wedge-shape.

In railroad-spikes, a head is required to be formed on one side of the spike, which, when in use, shall project over and press on the flanged base of the rail, and so hold the rail securely in position. To form such a head, the dies b b', whileI so grasping the spike-blank that its head or upper end shall project therefrom, arc carried backward by the carriage BLand the upper or head-end of the spike-blank is brought against the face of the header Gr, which, until the completion of its stroke, is oblique thereto. At the same time, the header G- is swung by the pin 2", which is attached to the carriage B, and plays in the obliciue slot z', as already described, toward the side on which the head is to be formed, and thus the head-end of the spike-blank receives a side swaging-stroke,1\vl1ich bends such end over, and upsets or swages a head in the recess t, which is properly shaped for that purpose. With the return or new forward movement of thc carriage B, the dies b b are separated bythe action of the cam-lever c, which action is simply the reverse of that already described, and is secured by the preponderance of weight of the rear end of the cam-lever e, or by other equivalent means. The spike, which is now complete, is forced from the groove ,in which its body is shaped, by a. spring, or by strippers, or other similar device ordinarily used forl'such purpose, and falls down through the opeping n in the machine, which is there left for thatlpurpose'. l I

Different-sized pointing-tools a may be used in the tool-posts a, for making different-sized spikes.

For bolt-spikes, or spikes used in laying flat or bar-rails, or such rails as are used on our street-railroads, a'eircular flat head, swaged or upset on the end of the spike, is usually required, the point and body of the Spike remaining the same. To swage such spike-heads, fix the header Gr so that its facefshall stand at right angles to and the slot z' parallel with the direction of the faces of the dies b. Either or both the dies b b should thenbe properly recessed, with a circular cavity, in which to form the spike-head, and with the devicesso made and arranged, I make spikes of any required shape. A

The advantages I claim are, among others, first, vcutting off the blank, shaping the point, and swaging the head, while the blankv is caught, pressed, a/nd held by a single pair of dies, so as to make the spike complete from'the rod or bar at one operation; second, an improved rnode of shaping the point andswaging the head; third, a saving of motion and machinery by the use of a sliding carriage, B; fourth, cheapness, srnplicityand` durability of construction of machine.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. In, a machine for making spikes and bolts, a sliding carriage, B,- which carries the spike or bolt-blank after being severed from its parent bar, and while lirmly griped by pressing-dies, in combination with a header;

G, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The pair of swinging and pointing-tools a', in combination with apaii` of guiding aiid pressing-rollers, H, arranged and operated substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbeforedescrihed.

3. The cam F, cam-lever c, and double parallel bars Z Z, or their mechanical equivalents, all arranged with' reference to one of a pair of pressing-dies in a spike-machine, to secure, first, a partial, and then a complete closing of the dies on the spike-blank, substantially in the manner and for the purposes above set forth.

4. In the manufacture of'railroad-spikes, the header G, with a slotted shank, hung and operated substantially as above described, so th'at it shall, except at the completion of the stroke of the machine, have its face' inclined to the direction of the faces of the pressing-dies, for-the purposes hercinbefore specified;

5. In a machine for making spikes, the arrangement of the canasA d and e, operating in cam-yokes, substantially as described, so that one cam, cl, which actuates the cutting and pointing-tools a', shall act a little in advance ofv the other cam, e, which operates the sliding carriage B,in order that such tools a may be partially opened and closed in advance of the beginning of the motion vof the carriage, substantially as above described.

6. The combination, in a spike-machine, of swing-ing pointing-tools a', pointing-rolls H, pressing-dies b b', and header G, substantially as and forthe purposes above set forth.

In testimony whereof, I, the said'LEOPoLD THOMAS, have hereunto set my hand.

LEGPOLD '.PHOMAS.v

- Witnesses:

A. S. NrcHoLsoN,

G: H. CHRISTY. 

